Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies/John Meunier is proud to announce the start-up of its first BIOSTYR biological aerated filter in Canada at the Ravensview wastewater treatment plant in Kingston, Ontario.
BIOSTYR Biological Aerated Filters
Biological aerated filters (BAFs) are compact treatment processes, which combine filtration and aerobic/anoxic treatment using a fixed-film biological degradation process. The BIOSTYR BAF uses floating polystyrene media comprised of individual spherical beads as the support for bio film growth. Wastewater is fed in an up-flow manner through the BIOSTYR resulting in biological abatement of the pollution, as well as physical filtration of suspended solids. Space restrictions at the construction site necessitated a compact and efficient biological treatment technology.
Allen Lucas from Utilities Kingston said: “We validated the performance of the BIOSTYR process through pilot scale testing before we went ahead with the purchase. We were very satisfied with the performance of the technology, as well as with the level of support and service that we received from Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies/John Meunier.”
As a result, a total of 11 BIOSTYR cells are being implemented to remove dissolved contaminants and provide high-level treatment. This will be one of the largest BAF applications in North America for secondary treatment.
Ravensview Water Pollution Control Plant
Mr Lucas said: “With a budget of $115 million, upgrading the Ravensview plant is the largest capital project ever undertaken by the city of Kingston.” Funding for this project was also made available through the Canada strategic infrastructure fund and also from the province of Ontario.
The prime objectives of this upgrade are:
- To conform to current Provincial and Federal environmental policies and requirements, achieving a measurable improvement of the effluent quality through the addition of secondary treatment with the BIOSTYR process
- To increase the plant’s capacity by approximately 30% to accommodate continued growth and development within the City of Kingston over the next 25 years
Dave Oliphant, regional sales manager for Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies/John Meunier said: “The BIOSTYR technology was a perfect fit for the Ravensview upgrade project in Kingston, but we pride ourselves on having a vast array of technologies that we can call upon to respond to each of our clients’ specific needs.”
Jim Keech, president and CEO of Utilities Kingston said: “Once completed, Ravensview will ensure superior treatment of Kingston’s wastewater before discharge to Lake Ontario at the head of the St. Lawrence River, returning to the water its natural resource quality for the benefit of the environment and downstream communities.”
Commissioning of the BIOSTYR
The construction of the concrete cells, the aeration grids, the instrumentation and control were completed over the course of the summer of 2008 and finished in August 2008. The start-up of the biological process started in September 2008 and has gone very well. The seeding of the biological process was very rapid; carbonaceous pollution removal was established one week after start-up and nitrification three weeks after start-up.
Process performance tests commenced on 17 February 2009, consisting of a three day trial, which successfully demonstrated the process design, and officially the commissioning and start-up was complete. Further testing and verification of the process will continue over the next 12 months.